Lighted wheel cover with a self-contained inertia-operated generator

Abstract

A signalling wheel cover, including inner and outer housings, is provided with lights around the circumference of the outer housing which sequentially illuminate as the two housings rotate with respect to one another. The outer housing is secured to a vehicle wheel. Coils, to which the lights are connected, are mounted to the outer housing. The inner housing, to which magnets are mounted, is rotatably secured relative to the outer housing to allow independent rotation of the two housings. As the wheel carrying the outer housing begins to rotate, the inner housing tends to resist the rotation due to its inertia. This resistance to rotation can be enhancedd by adding a counterweight to the inner housing so the inner housing is mounted pendulously. As the coils rotate through the magnetic fields of the magnets, current flow is induced in the coils which causes illumination of the lights in a sequential pattern.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A signalling vehicle wheel cover, for use with a wheel of a vehicle, comprising: a first housing mounted to the wheel for rotation therewith;   a second housing disposed proximate said first housing;   means for mounting said second housing to a chosen one of the wheel and the first housing for rotational motion relative to said first housing;   generating means, carried by said first and second housings, for generating a current when the first and second housings rotate relative to one another;   signal means, electrically coupled to the generating means and secured to a selected one of said first and second housings, for generating a signal in response to the current generated by said generating means; and   means for simulating propogation of said signal around the selected one of said first and second housings.   
     
     
       2. The signalling wheel cover according to claim 1, further comprising a counterweight secured to said second housing to restrict rotation of said second housing as the wheel rotates. 
     
     
       3. The signalling wheel cover according to claim 1, wherein said mounting means mounts said second housing to said first housing. 
     
     
       4. The signalling wheel cover according to claim 1, wherein said first housing surrounds said second housing. 
     
     
       5. The signalling wheel cover according to claim 1, wherein said mounting means comprises a shaft, secured to said first housing, and bearing, engaging said second housing and said shaft which allows rotational motion of said second housing relative to said first housing. 
     
     
       6. The signalling wheel cover according to claim 1, wherein said generating means comprises magnets and coils. 
     
     
       7. The signalling wheel cover according to claim 6, wherein said magnets are disposed on said second housing. 
     
     
       8. The signally wheel cover according to claim 7, wherein said coils are disposed on said first housing. 
     
     
       9. The signally wheel cover according to claim 7, wherein said second housing includes a circumferential portion, and said magnets have poles oriented radially with said circumferential portion. 
     
     
       10. The signalling wheel cover according to claim 9, wherein said coils are disposed on said first housing radially outwardly of said magnets. 
     
     
       11. The signalling wheel cover according to claim 1, wherein said signal means comprises light emitting diodes. 
     
     
       12. The signalling wheel cover according to claim 1, wherein the signal means is secured to the first housing.